2009.6.15

Coupled Cranmer Abaci

American Printing House for the Blind

Pair of black plastic standard APH Cranmer abaci linked together with a bright chrome-plated stamped steel coupler; each abacus has rectangular frame with two rectangular cutouts in center; both cutouts lined with red felt; thirteen steel rods run vertically through both cutouts; lower rods each hold four (4) round white plastic moveable beads; upper rods each hold one (1) bead; cast into top frame, "APH"; raised bars and dots on frame divide beads into groups of three.

H-3.25 W-12.5 D-0.5 inches

ca. 1968

American Printing House for the Blind

Louisville, KY

APH Collection

In 1962, Carson Nolan, APH president, and June Morris, APH vice president, led an APH project in which 150 abacuses were made at APH and tested for use by blind students at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA and in Cincinnati public schools. Fred Gissoni traveled to the schools to train instructors and students in use of the abacus, which was based on Terence (Tim) V. Cranmer's design and which would later be produced as the Cranmer Abacus at APH. After 12 weeks of testing, it was found that the students using the abacus had an increase of 4 grade levels in their mathematical skills. The Cranmer Abacus first appeared in the APH catalog in 1963. The coupler which allowed math problems up to 26 columns was introduced around 1968.

APH Collection, 2009.6.